BBQ competition coming to South MS, featuring 11 categories from whole hog to Bloody Marys

Seven months after The Great Lawn at Harrah’s Gulf Coast welcomed The Food Network’s Great Food Truck Race , the venue will again entice foodies for the Smokin’ the Coast BBQ competition.

The new event is this weekend, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 27 and 28, at The Great Lawn on the waterfront at Harrah’s Gulf Coast casino, 280 Beach Blvd. in Biloxi.

Krewe of Neptune has teamed with Harrah’s Gulf Coast and Memphis Barbecue Network to bring this nationally sanctioned barbecue event to the Coast. The event is partially funded by VisitMississippi.org.

Pitmasters and amateurs will compete against teams from across the southeastern United States and winners will be crowned in the Championship Division & Patio Division.

The top smokers will take home trophies for first, second and third places. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top five contestants in each category: Pulled pork, pork ribs, pork loin, pork chops, whole hog, baked beans, seafood/fish, chicken, barbecue sauce, desserts and bloody Marys.

Spectators are welcome Friday from 5-10 p.m. and all day Saturday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Admission is $10 per day and live music is planned both days, with three live bands and a DJ on the schedule.

“Smokin’ The Coast will feature a professional division, where you can see entire hogs being barbecued, and a patio division for your back porch guys who like to cook.” said Madison Rosonet, an officer with the Krew of Neptune.

Kids from about ages 5-15 also can sign up to show what they can do on a barbecue and compete for a cash prize. The kids’ event starts Saturday morning around 11 a.m., Rosonet said, and Butcher on Tucker will provide free steaks for the kids to barbecue.

In the adult division, it takes 12 hours or longer for the meat to smoke, Rosonet said. Food trucks will be stationed at The Great Lawn as people get hungry from the aroma of the barbecue, and there will be beer for sale.

Also part of the event are arts and crafts vendors and a cornhole competition, along with a blood drive by the American Red Cross.

Rosonet said his father-in-law Dustey Walley is a two-time world champion in the whole hog competition and his co-organizer Daniel Dameco used to compete.

While most of the barbecue competitions are in an open field or parking lot, he said, being right on the water on The Great Lawn makes this a great place for families to enjoy the event.